Pediatric carotid body tumors: A case report and systematic review

Carotid body tumors (CBTs), or chemodectomas, are rare, especially in the pediatric population. They often present with minimal symptoms, making timely diagnosis challenging. This case report and systematic review highlights a distinctive presentation and summarize the current evidence on pediatric...

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Main Authors: Tariq Alanezi, MBBS, Abdulhakim Ibrahim Bin Onayq, MBBS, Mohammed Al-Omran, MD, MSc
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Vascular Surgery Cases and Innovative Techniques
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468428724001680
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author Tariq Alanezi, MBBS
Abdulhakim Ibrahim Bin Onayq, MBBS
Mohammed Al-Omran, MD, MSc
author_facet Tariq Alanezi, MBBS
Abdulhakim Ibrahim Bin Onayq, MBBS
Mohammed Al-Omran, MD, MSc
author_sort Tariq Alanezi, MBBS
collection DOAJ
description Carotid body tumors (CBTs), or chemodectomas, are rare, especially in the pediatric population. They often present with minimal symptoms, making timely diagnosis challenging. This case report and systematic review highlights a distinctive presentation and summarize the current evidence on pediatric CBTs. We report a case of a 13-year-old girl presenting with neck pain and a left-sided neck mass. After extensive evaluation, a Shamblin type III tumor was identified and removed surgically. Postoperatively, the patient experienced transient hypertension and significant dysphagia, both of which resolved within a few weeks with no permanent sequelae. Histology confirmed a benign paraganglioma. A systematic literature review of PubMed identified 29 cases from 23 published studies spanning from 1968 to 2024. The average age at diagnosis was 12.6 ± 3.6 years. The most common symptom was a neck mass or swelling, reported in 75% of cases (n = 21). Tumor sizes ranged from 1.3 to 8.0 cm, with Shamblin III being the most frequent classification. Gross total resection (n = 25 [89.3%]) alone or in combination with preoperative embolization (n = 10 [35.7%]) were the most common methods of management. In 62.1% of cases, there were no permanent complication or sequelae. The proximity to vital neurovascular structures and high vascularity in pediatric patients necessitates careful perioperative interdisciplinary management. Owing to their rarity and nonspecific presentation, CBTs often remain undiagnosed for years. They respond well to treatment, but can be fatal if untreated, underscoring the importance of including CBTs in the differential diagnosis of pediatric neck masses.
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spelling doaj-art-6bbed31d63dc4ff5badfecb68766a6c42025-08-20T02:07:35ZengElsevierJournal of Vascular Surgery Cases and Innovative Techniques2468-42872024-12-0110610158410.1016/j.jvscit.2024.101584Pediatric carotid body tumors: A case report and systematic reviewTariq Alanezi, MBBS0Abdulhakim Ibrahim Bin Onayq, MBBS1Mohammed Al-Omran, MD, MSc2College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCollege of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Surgery, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Division of Vascular Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Correspondence: Mohammed Al-Omran, MD, MSc, Department of Surgery, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Division of Vascular Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, 30 Bond St, Ste 7-074, Bond Wing, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1W8, CanadaCarotid body tumors (CBTs), or chemodectomas, are rare, especially in the pediatric population. They often present with minimal symptoms, making timely diagnosis challenging. This case report and systematic review highlights a distinctive presentation and summarize the current evidence on pediatric CBTs. We report a case of a 13-year-old girl presenting with neck pain and a left-sided neck mass. After extensive evaluation, a Shamblin type III tumor was identified and removed surgically. Postoperatively, the patient experienced transient hypertension and significant dysphagia, both of which resolved within a few weeks with no permanent sequelae. Histology confirmed a benign paraganglioma. A systematic literature review of PubMed identified 29 cases from 23 published studies spanning from 1968 to 2024. The average age at diagnosis was 12.6 ± 3.6 years. The most common symptom was a neck mass or swelling, reported in 75% of cases (n = 21). Tumor sizes ranged from 1.3 to 8.0 cm, with Shamblin III being the most frequent classification. Gross total resection (n = 25 [89.3%]) alone or in combination with preoperative embolization (n = 10 [35.7%]) were the most common methods of management. In 62.1% of cases, there were no permanent complication or sequelae. The proximity to vital neurovascular structures and high vascularity in pediatric patients necessitates careful perioperative interdisciplinary management. Owing to their rarity and nonspecific presentation, CBTs often remain undiagnosed for years. They respond well to treatment, but can be fatal if untreated, underscoring the importance of including CBTs in the differential diagnosis of pediatric neck masses.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468428724001680Carotid body tumorParagangliomasChemodectomasNeck tumorBalloon test occlusion
spellingShingle Tariq Alanezi, MBBS
Abdulhakim Ibrahim Bin Onayq, MBBS
Mohammed Al-Omran, MD, MSc
Pediatric carotid body tumors: A case report and systematic review
Journal of Vascular Surgery Cases and Innovative Techniques
Carotid body tumor
Paragangliomas
Chemodectomas
Neck tumor
Balloon test occlusion
title Pediatric carotid body tumors: A case report and systematic review
title_full Pediatric carotid body tumors: A case report and systematic review
title_fullStr Pediatric carotid body tumors: A case report and systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Pediatric carotid body tumors: A case report and systematic review
title_short Pediatric carotid body tumors: A case report and systematic review
title_sort pediatric carotid body tumors a case report and systematic review
topic Carotid body tumor
Paragangliomas
Chemodectomas
Neck tumor
Balloon test occlusion
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468428724001680
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